Flue-cleaner.



VfG. BECKER.

FLUB CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED IBB. 11, 1909.

Patented May 3, 1910.

VALENTINE G. BECKER, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

FLUE-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1910.

Application filed February l1, 1909. Serial No. 477,372.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALENTINE G. BECKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F lue- Cleaners, ofwhich the following is a speci- Jicat-ion.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for cleaning boilerflues and consists in a device for cleaning or scraping and blowing outthe interior of the flue with the expenditure of less steam and lowersteam pressure than is possible with the ordinary constructions of fluecleaners.

To this end my invention consists in the features of construction andcombination hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specilication, Figure1 is a side elevation of my improved device, and Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section of the same.

In the drawings A represents a steam or compressed air supply pipeprovided at its rear downwardly bent end 2 with a stopv cock 3. The stopcock carries a suitable handle portion 4. The opposite end of the supplypipe is threaded in an elbow 5 eX- tending rearwardly from the cupshaped nozzle 6. The nozzle 6 is tted loosely to the flue to be cleanedand is formed with a circumferential flange 7 to bear against the outerend of the flue. Slidable within the nozzle 6 is a cone S the outer endof the cone being slightly larger than the nozzle but smaller than theinner diameter of the flue. A steel wire or similar connection 9 issecured at one end to the cone, extending slidably through the stuffingbox 10 and the handle 11 and being secured at its other end to the spoolbetween the flanges 13. The spool has rotatable support 14 in thebracket 15 removably supported upon the rear end of the supply pipe andbeing secured thereto by suitable bolts 16. Within the spool is a coilspring 17 connected at one end to the spool and at the other end to thefixed shaft 14 upon which the spool revolves. The spool 12 under thetension of its spring 17 normally holds the wire 9 and cone withdrawn.The handle 11 is slidably supported upon the supply pipe as shown and isheld in adjusted positions by means of the bolt 18.

In operation, the nozzle is inserted in the flue to be cleaned with theend of the flue in contact with the flanged end of the nozzle tomaintain a steam tight joint, the free end of the nozzle and cone beingso proportioned as to leave a slight space between them and the innerwall of the ue. The cock 3 then being opened the steam will pass throughthe supply pipe forcing the cone through the flue and loosening thesoot. At the same time the steam will pass around the cone blowing outthe soot, a cone acting as a spreader for the steam to increase theefficiency of the device. The closed joint between the rear end of thenozzle and tube will prevent cold air being drawn in and also preventthe steam and soot from being blown back.

I claim as my invention: l

1. A flue cleaner of the class described comprising a nozzle adapted tobe fitted to the outer end of a flue, a pressure fluid supply pipetapped into said nozzle, a spreader for the pressure fluid slidablewithin said nozzle, said spreader being smaller than the diameter of theflue to leave an intermediate passage, and means for retracting saidspreader.

2. A flue cleaner of the class described comprising a nozzle adapted tobe fitted to the outer end of a flue, a source of steam supply, a coneslidably fitted within said nozzle and slightly smaller at its outer endthan the inner diameter of said flue whereby to spread the steam andallow it to pass between the cone and flue, and spring retracted meansfor said cone.

3. A flue cleaner of the class described comprising a nozzle adapted tobe fitted to the outer end of a flue, a pressure fluid supply pipetapped into said nozzle, a handle for said supply pipe, a cone slidablysupported within said nozzle and smaller at its outer end than the fluewhereby to spread the pressure fluid and allow it to pass between thecone and flue, a spring retracted spool having rotatable support uponsaid supply pipe and a flexible connection between said cone and spoolfor the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afhx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VALENTINE G. BECKER.

Witnesses:

H. S. JOHNSON, I-I. SMITH.

